Make sure you follow these steps to keep your Filament Maker in good conditions. This is one of the keys to achieve good filament quality.
1 - Always have these resources ready
We strongly recommend that you always have access to the following resources when using the Filament Maker. This way, you will be prepared to face any incident.
1.a - Tools
- Pliers: manipulate filament (very useful when it wraps around the puller wheel)
- Cutters: cut filament
- Tweezers: remove plastic from the nozzle/knee (very useful when changing the nozzle)
- Thermal glove: manipulate filament or touch the nozzle
- Cutproof gloves: manipulate glass-wool (when changing the nozzle)
- 13mm and 19mm wrench: when changing the nozzle
1.b - Spare parts
- Puller wheel: https://3devo.com/product/puller-wheel/
- Nozzle packages: (nozzle+nut) comes in several sizes: blind, 2mm, 3mm, 4mm (default). Having a spare 2mm, 3mm, and 4mm, with one nut for each, is wise
1.c - Consumables
- Devoclean MidTemp EZ: 3-5kg is a reasonable amount, knowing that 300g are consumed each session on average
- Devoclean HighTemp:
- 5kg if you regularly process high temperature materials (PEEK,...) --> used every session
- 1kg if you only process low temperature materials (PLA, PET,... below 300°C) --> used for high level purges
- 3devo's standard PLA: 3kg to run Quality Checks
1.d - The handy link
- This very useful link covers almost all extrusion issues you might face. Finding a quick answer and acting immediately is the best way to go, since certain extrusion issues can clog the extruder irreversibly once the material solidifies
2 - Daily maintenance
These steps must be followed every single time you use the Filament Maker.
- Start: Datalog https://support.3devo.com/devovision-guide/
- Any data that is not logged is lost forever
- Warning: because launching a datalog resets the extruder, please always start a datalog before heating up the extruder - not in the middle of a run
- Middle: Keep an eye out for extrusion issues
- Our troubleshooting guide will come in handy
- End: Purge
- https://support.3devo.com/purging-your-filament-maker/
- If your working temperatures are within 180-300°C, then only a Devoclean MidTemp EZ purge is required
- If your working temperatures are above 300°C, you will need to run a Devoclean HighTemp purge, followed by a cooldown to 300°C (without stopping the flow !), followed by a Devoclean MidTemp EZ purge
3 - Whenever something goes wrong
- Change the nozzle if you notice it is clogged or damaged
- Change the puller wheel if you notice it is grooved/damaged (see just below)
- Perform a high level purge when you observe a very disturbed or weak extrusion flow
- if your working temperatures are within 180-300°C, then a high level purge is: Devoclean MidTemp EZ purge >> heat up to 300°C >> Devoclean HighTemp purge (300-500g usually) >> Devoclean MidTemp EZ purge >> switch off
- if your working temperatures are above 300°C, then a high level purge is: Devoclean HighTemp purge >> cooldown to 300°C >> Devoclean MidTemp EZ purge >> switch off
- either way, a high level purge should be followded by a PLA Quality Check
4 - Monthly: PLA Quality Check
Whether you have just performed a high level purge after an extrusion incident, or you have been experimenting for a month without any major issues, it is recommend to check the performance of the Filament Maker regularly. Please consult our dedicated Quality Check article.